DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON vs ADRIANO MORAES
ONE Championship makes its highly-anticipated return to U.S. prime time with ONE Fight Night 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II!
Headlining the blockbuster event is one of the biggest fights in MMA today – an epic rematch between longtime ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes and Demetrious Johnson, whom many consider to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. Will Moraes score yet another thrilling knockout, or can DJ avenge the only stoppage loss of his incredible career to capture the belt?
DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON
HEIGHT 160 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 60.8 KG | TEAM
AMC Pankration / Evolve MMA
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12-time Flyweight World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound mixed martial artists of all time. In 2018, after completely dominating the highly-competitive North American scene with a record-setting run of 11 World Title defenses, Johnson decided to make ONE Championship his new home as part of a landmark deal.
Johnson’s meteoric rise to greatness was borne of sheer determination and hard work. He grew up in incredibly adverse circumstances, being raised by his hearing-impaired mother and an abusive stepfather. However, he never let his circumstances get the better of him. Johnson became a highly-successful athlete in high school, competing in several sports on the way to a second-place finish at the Washington State Wrestling Championships.
This success on the mats led him to try his hand at mixed martial arts in 2007, and resulted in one of the most incredible careers ever seen in the sport. Though he enjoyed great returns at bantamweight, a move to flyweight in 2012 saw Johnson really come into his own. He tore through several tough contenders on the way to capturing the UFC Flyweight World Championship, defending it an amazing 11 times to etch his name into history.
“Mighty Mouse” etched his name once more by defeating three of the top flyweights in Asia — including Yuya Wakamatsu, Tatsumitsu Wada, and Danny Kingad — to claim the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship in October 2019.
Besides being an accomplished martial artist, Johnson is also one of the world’s top gaming streamers.
ADRIANO MORAES
HEIGHT 172 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 60.8 KG | TEAM American Top Team / Constrictor Team
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Adriano Moraes has come a long way in his life, prevailing against all odds and rising from nothing to become the ONE Flyweight World Champion. Abandoned as a newborn in Brazil, Moraes grew up in an orphanage, but his life would change forever when he was adopted by a kind soul who raised him as a single mother. That gave him the chance he needed to succeed in life, and he has since dedicated himself to making his adoptive mother proud.
He began his martial arts journey at the age of seven after his mother decided to enrol him in judo classes, and he soon picked up the Brazilian art of capoeira as well. However, he fell into bad company and decided to take Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to learn how to defend himself. BJJ ignited a passion within Moraes, and he proved to be a natural talent, making a name for himself in grappling tournaments while earning the rank of black belt. In 2011, Moraes decided to test his skills in mixed martial arts and went on a tear through the South American scene with a nine-bout win streak to capture a regional championship.
That success would continue in ONE Championship, where he embarked on a five-win run to capture and defend the inaugural ONE Flyweight World Title. He would surrender the belt in late 2015 to Kairat Akhmetov in a heartbreaking split decision, but bounced right back with a series of wins to reclaim the throne. Despite losing the World Championship in 2018 to longtime rival Geje Eustaquio, Moraes did not lose heart. In a thrilling trilogy bout, he overcame Eustaquio for the second time to stand once again as the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion.
Saturday, 27 August @ Singapore Indoor Stadium
NONG-O GAIYANGHADAO VS LIAM HARRISON
NONG-O GAIYANGHADAO
HEIGHT 171 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 65.8 KG | TEAM Evolve MMA
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A living legend in the world of Muay Thai, ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao has captured nearly every major accolade in the sport and is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time. What makes his accomplishments even more admirable is the fact they were borne of pure hard work and determination, as he came from humble beginnings.
Born to a family of farmers, Nong-O was raised in extreme poverty and began his Muay Thai career at the tender age of 9. He started training after watching his neighbor hitting a heavy bag, and he was so eager to compete that he had his first bout just one month later. After a few years of sharpening his skills, he made the difficult decision to leave home for Bangkok when he was 14 years old to pursue Muay Thai full-time, both living and training at his camp.
Nong-O made his first appearance at the famed Rajadamnern stadium a year later, winning a decision in an undercard bout. This set off an incredible run of success across over 300 bouts, including two Thailand national Muay Thai Championships, four Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Championships in different divisions, and a Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Championship. Now, he takes his place among the world’s best strikers in ONE Super Series, where he cemented his legacy by capturing the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
LIAM HARRISON
HEIGHT 170 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 65.6 KG | TEAM Bad Company Team
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Eight-time Muay Thai World Champion Liam Harrison almost never realized his immense potential as a martial artist. He first began his athletic pursuits with soccer, and proved talented enough to play it at a very high level in his hometown of Leeds in England. However, his life would change forever at the age of 13, when his cousin introduced him to Muay Thai.
Harrison fell in love with the striking art immediately, and his passion for Muay Thai was so fierce that he even left school to pursue his dreams of becoming a World Champion. By the time he was 15 years old, he had already developed a fearsome reputation for his knockout power and aggressive, high-pressure style, which earned him the nickname of “Hitman.”
This tremendous success brought Harrison all over the world, where he has competed in more than 100 bouts to date. Along the way, he claimed eight Muay Thai World Titles across a variety of weight classes and rule sets, with over half of his wins coming by way of stoppage. Now that he is going up against the world’s best strikers in ONE Super Series, his next goal is to add a ONE World Title to his collection, and become a household name in combat sports.
RODTANG JITMUANGNON VS SAVVAS MICHAEL
RODTANG JITMUANGNON
HEIGHT 168 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 61.2 KG | TEAM Jitmuangnon Gym
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Like many Thai warriors before him, ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon started training at a young age when he was just 7 years old. He was a timid child who avoided conflict and had little interest in training or competition when he first started, but this would all change when he had his first professional Muay Thai bout at the age of 10.
Encouraged by the fact that he could earn money through competing to support himself and his family, he took to the ring with renewed vigor. Rodtang initially trained at a small camp in his hometown of Pattalung, but soon began traveling to the famed Jitmuangnon Camp in Bangkok in pursuit of better training. He would make the move permanent in order to train full-time and pursue his dreams of becoming a World Champion.
Rodtang was highly successful, compiling over 250 wins by the time he turned 21, and he even won the prestigious Omnoi Stadium World Title twice. But it is in Aug 2019 that Rodtang reached the pinnacle of striking, when he defeated Jonathan Haggerty to claim the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title.
SAVVAS MICHAEL
HEIGHT 178 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 61.0 KG | TEAM Petchyindee Academy
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WMC Muay Thai World Champion Savvas Michael is originally from the island nation of Cyprus, but moved to Thailand immediately after high school to train at the famed Petchyindee Academy and compete in Bangkok’s major Muay Thai stadiums. He got his start in the martial arts with karate at the urging of his father, a karate champion himself, and then switched to Muay Thai because he felt he needed a more intense form of competition.
When Michael was 12, he flew to Thailand to compete in the amateur Muay Thai World Championships. After seeing the vibrant atmosphere and superb technique at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium, he was hooked and decided on the spot to become a professional Muay Thai athlete. By the time he was 20 years old, Michael had compiled an excellent record of 36 wins with just two losses and signed with ONE Super Series.
In a relatively short time, Michael has already won both the ISKA European Title and Toyota Marathon Tournament twice, as well as a WMC World Title. He still trains at Petchyindee Academy under Peeraphat Sirireung alongside the likes of Muay Thai World Champion Petchdam, and he believes he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to, including becoming the best in the world, because he gives his all in training every day.
MARCUS ALMEIDA VS KIRILL GRISHENKO
MARCUS ALMEIDA
HEIGHT 191 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 115.4 KG | TEAM American Top Team / Evolve MMA
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Brazilian heavyweight star Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida did not always dream of becoming a martial arts legend.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he routinely hit the beach and wanted to become a professional surfer, but riding the waves would not be his calling. During his teenage years, Almeida followed in his father and sister’s footsteps, where he began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was there that he found his true passion.
Once “Buchecha” got on the mats, he fell in love with the grappling art and was determined to master the craft. The Brazilian claimed his first IBJJF World Title in 2010 in no-gi competition, and following his victory, he received his black belt while on the podium. Ultimately, he would become a 17-time BJJ World Champion. Most notably, he won six of those titles in the openweight category, which is a record that still stands today.
After feeling like he had accomplished everything he could in the BJJ world, Almeida decided to make the transition into MMA and signed with ONE Championship in July 2020. The heavyweight has since made a massive impact in the world’s largest martial arts organization, where he has used his signature grappling, ground control, and powerful submissions to great effect. To date, he has finished every single opponent in the first round.
“Buchecha” embraces the martial arts spirit, and he works every day to improve his techniques and become the best all-around fighter he can possibly be. That mentality has paid dividends thus far, and he is quickly becoming the most feared heavyweight combat sports athlete on the planet.
KIRILL GRISHENKO
HEIGHT 193 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 113.2 KG | TEAM M2G/MGC
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Belarusian standout Kirill Grishenko is quickly becoming one of the most feared heavyweights in MMA today.
The Minsk native started his martial arts journey with Greco-Roman wrestling when he was in the third grade. He represented his nation well in the sport, claiming various accolades, including two European Championships. Following that success, he became a coach at the country’s National Olympic Training Center.
However, Grishenko’s thirst for competition remained, and he transitioned to professional mixed martial arts in 2020. Though his inexperience made him an underdog, he quickly proved that he was a force to be reckoned with.
The Belarusian finished his first three opponents in the first round, including two via TKO, showing that he had added dangerous striking to complement his high-level wrestling. He signed with ONE Championship in 2021 and immediately made an impact by forcing Senegalese sensation “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane to throw in the towel after two rounds and then handing Canadian Dustin Joynson his first career loss.
Those victories catapulted Grishenko into a ONE Interim Heavyweight World Title showdown with Anatoly Malykhin in February 2022, and he remains a key player in the upper echelon of the division.
AMIR ALIAKBARI VS MAURO CERILLI
AMIR ALIAKBARI
HEIGHT 192 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 120.2 KG | TEAM AAA Team
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Amir Aliakbari has emerged as one of Iran’s greatest combat sports athletes of all time.
The Tehran native originally found himself as the nation’s foremost figure in Greco-Roman wrestling. At the 2010 World Wrestling Championships in Moscow, Russia, he defeated five men in a single day to win the gold medal in the 96-kilogram category.
Soon, Aliakbari shifted his attention from Greco-Roman wrestling to MMA with the hope of replicating that success. Since making his pro debut in October 2015, the Iranian has used his suffocating grappling prowess, heavy hands, and immense power to earn 10 career victories. What’s more, seven of those victories came via knockout in the first round.
That led him to a deal with ONE Championship in August 2020.
Known for his brute strength and bombastic personality, Aliakbari is finally on the global stage where he believes he can carry the torch for Iranian mixed martial arts. With supreme confidence in his abilities, the Tehran powerhouse is intent on bringing his same overbearing style to the heavyweight division and forcing himself into the hunt for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship.
MAURO CERILLI
HEIGHT 190 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 120.2 KG | TEAM Aurora Fight Team
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Cage Warriors Heavyweight Champion Mauro Cerilli began his martial arts journey with judo at the age of 6, and he proved talented enough to win a national youth championship in his native Italy. However, he didn’t pursue his passion for martial arts immediately, as trade school and starting a family soon took up all of his time.
However, he could not stay away from the dojo for long and later rededicated himself to his training, this time adding Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his regimen. On a whim, he stepped into the cage for an amateur mixed martial arts bout and soon realized that he had real potential to make it a successful career. He made his professional debut in 2012, and has since put together an excellent competitive record, even capturing the Cage Warriors Heavyweight Championship in the process.
A dominant striker, Cerilli has never lost while competing at Heavyweight and has finished seven opponents with his powerful strikes. He took an impressive five-bout winning streak dating back to 2015 into his ONE Championship debut, but was unsuccessful in his first attempt to forge a better life for his family by claiming the ONE Heavyweight World Title. He now resumes his quest for gold, and he is determined to go through any opponent he faces to get it.
SUPERLEK KIATMOO9 VS WALTER GONCALVES
SUPERLEK KIATMOO9
HEIGHT 171 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 61.1 KG | TEAM Kiatmo09 Gym
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With a lifetime of training under his belt, it’s no surprise that two-time Muay Thai World Champion Superlek is widely considered one of the very best strikers in the world.
Growing up in the Buriram province in Northeastern Thailand, Superlek was constantly surrounded by elite Muay Thai practitioners at the Kiatmoo9 gym, especially his uncle, the legendary Singdam. This inspired a young Superlek to begin training and competing himself at the tender of 8, and his hard work and talent soon paid off. Despite his age, the technical Muay Femur stylist has already racked up over 100 wins to his name.
Along the way, he even claimed World Titles at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok and was named Sports Authority of Thailand Muay Thai Fighter of The Year in 2012. Now that he has made it to the global stage of ONE Championship, Superlek is determined to become a national hero in Thailand and add a ONE Super Series World Title to his already-impressive list of accolades.
WALTER GONCALVES
HEIGHT 161 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 60.2 KG | TEAM Blackthai CT
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Walter Goncalves grew up in Fortaleza, in the northeast of Brazil. He was a poor student who was more interested in fighting with the other boys at school than his studies, but that would all change when he became exposed to martial arts. His father had taken him to his karate dojo, and he enjoyed the classes immensely before realizing he had great potential.
He soon discovered Muay Thai and switched up his style, and it is a decision that would alter the course of his life. After he finished school, Goncalves moved to Thailand to train at the renowned Sitsongpeenong camp in Phuket under legendary Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Sagadphet, and he devoted himself fully to his craft. He went on to have more than 70 bouts in Muay Thai, winning over half of them by knockout while securing titles in the WPMF and Muay Xtreme organizations.
Goncalves is now back in Brazil training under head coach Anderson “Dentao” David, a move that has brought him happiness and even greater confidence in his abilities. A young athlete who has already made great sacrifices and amassed a wealth of experience beyond his years, he is excited to be competing in the largest and most respected martial arts organization in the world.
AMIR NASERI VS JONATHAN HAGGERTY
AMIR NASERI
HEIGHT 175 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 60.3 KG | TEAM Tiger Muay Thai
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Growing up in Tehran, Iran, Amir Naseri was surrounded by a vibrant sports culture. Although the country has a deeply rooted history in wrestling, the Iranian often found himself on the soccer field competing for his school’s team. That served as an early indicator of his athletic ability and brilliant footwork, which would one day be the centerpiece of his Muay Thai style.
When Naseri was eight years old, his family moved across the continent to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Five years later, his eye for the striking arts would lead him to a Muay Thai gym close by his school.
After learning the basics and finding his aptitude for the sport, the Iranian realized he would need to travel to Thailand if he wanted to elevate his game and compete against world-class athletes. With that in mind, Naseri went to the birthplace of Muay Thai in 2012, trained at several gyms throughout the country, and then ultimately wound up at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket two years later.
Naseri built his reputation on the international scene and it led him to ONE Championship in 2022, where he entered the star-studded ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix. After being forced to halt his career during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iranian is ready for his breakout moment on the global stage and to establish himself as the premier flyweight striker.
JONATHAN HAGGERTY
HEIGHT 170 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 60. 9 KG | TEAM Keddles Gym / Knowlesy Academy/Team Underground
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Former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty is already an incredibly-accomplished martial artist, despite his relative youth. He began training in Muay Thai at the age of 7 under the watchful eye of his father, who was himself an active competitor, and had his first bout just one year later. Since then, he has relentlessly pursued his dreams of becoming the best striker in the world.
Haggerty quickly racked up multiple amateur accolades in the sport of Muay Thai, becoming a multiple-time English and British Champion before claiming a European title as well. After turning professional, he continued dominating his way across the globe, knocking out almost every opponent to date on the way to becoming a Roar Combat League World Champion.
This tremendous success soon led Haggerty to ONE Championship, where he made a stellar debut by defeating Muay Thai World Champion Joseph Lasiri. One of the very best strikers to ever represent the United Kingdom, Haggerty then made waves around the world in just his second bout on the global stage. He defeated legendary Muay Thai World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in May 2019, capturing the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in the process to reach the pinnacle of his career.
DIANDRA MARTIN VS AMBER KITCHEN
DIANDRA MARTIN
HEIGHT 172 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 57.6 KG | TEAM MuayU
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Australian striker Diandra Martin may have started her martial arts journey a little later than most athletes, but she’s making up for lost time in a big way.
The Canberra native began training in Muay Thai when she was 20 years old, primarily for self-defense and fitness purposes. But after getting a taste of competition, she enjoyed it more than she had expected. With a burning desire to improve her techniques and take her skills to the next level, she joined Muay U Gym in Canberra, which is the home of ISKA K-1 World Champion and former ONE World Title challenger Josh “Timebomb” Tonna.
Martin has since collected 10 wins against top fighters in the ultra-competitive Aussie Muay Thai scene. In 2021, she earned a massive head kick knockout over South African-Australian legend Yolanda Schmidt, announcing to the world that she is ready for the spotlight.
The Canberra striker took her talents to the global stage of ONE Championship in February 2022, where she made her debut against Swedish prodigy Smilla Sundell. It was a thrilling contest, but Sundell earned the victory and would claim the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Title in her next fight.
With the valuable lessons she learned from her first promotional appearance, expect Martin to come back with a vengeance and prove that she belongs in the World Championship mix.
AMBER KITCHEN
HEIGHT 169 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 59. 0 KG | TEAM Touchgloves Gym
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WBC England Muay Thai Champion Amber Kitchen literally grew up in the gym, being the daughter of famed British kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, Julie Kitchen, and her coach Nathan Kitchen. She began her own training at the age of 3 and spent most of her days in the gym, where she would do her schoolwork before joining the training sessions.
Kitchen immediately took to the sport of Muay Thai, winning a Junior Championship and later becoming a WBC National Champion. She struggled to find opponents at first due to her family pedigree and reputation, but she has recently put together a solid winning streak against more experienced opposition, including a win over the highly-regarded Jackie Buntan.
Kitchen feels honored by the opportunity to compete against the best in the world in ONE Championship, and she looks forward to proving herself in the Circle. She anticipates tough, experienced opponents and is training harder than ever before to prepare for them.
ITSUKI HIRATA
HEIGHT 157 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 52.2 KG | TEAM Krazy Bee
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Fighting Agent War Tournament Champion Itsuki Hirata first fell in love with martial arts at the age of 6 after she followed her older brother to judo training. She took to the mats instantly, placing third nationally as an elementary school student before winning a prefectural judo championship in high school.
Hirata became captivated by mixed martial arts after watching it on television, and she began training in it immediately after graduating from high school to expand her horizons. She eventually found her way to the K-Clann gym in Tokyo, where she sharpens her skills daily under the watchful eye of two-division DEEP World Champion and former ONE Featherweight World Title challenger Kazunori Yokota.
Hirata was a standout participant on Japanese reality show Fighting Agent War, winning all of her bouts by submission to grab the attention of the mixed martial arts world. She now looks forward to entertaining the fans on the global stage of ONE Championship, with her ultimate goal being to win the ONE Atomweight World Title.
LIN HEQIN
HEIGHT 167 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 56.2 KG | TEAM Hasheng MMA
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WMMAA Champion Lin Heqin started training in martial arts at a young age, and began her journey with sanda while studying at a martial arts college. Although she retired from the competitive Chinese sanda scene in 2015, she soon discovered she could not live without martial arts.
She switched her focus to mixed martial arts and began training diligently, making her professional debut that same year. Despite suffering a setback in her first bout, Lin would surge back in spectacular fashion, registering 16 wins with just a single loss to earn a place on the ONE Championship roster.
Seeking to improve her growing skills, she moved across the country in 2018 to continue her martial arts journey at Hasheng MMA. Lin remains driven by the desire to show that women can be strong martial artists, and she also aims to prove that the many doubters she has encountered throughout her career were wrong.
ZEBAZTIAN KADESTAM VS IURI LAPICUS
ZEBAZTIAN KADESTAM
HEIGHT 180 CM | WEIGHT LIMIT 87.3 KG | TEAM Legacy Gym / Pancrase Gym Sweden
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Former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian Kadestam started training in Muay Thai when he was 12 years old and has never looked back since, going on to embark on a highly-successful professional Muay Thai career. Kadestam was first introduced to other disciplines by a BJJ brown belt and former boxer, and was immediately drawn to the cage.
He soon began training at the Pancrase Gym in Stockholm, and after a stint in Thailand, made the move to sharpen his skills at the Philippines’ Legacy gym in 2010 under famed martial artist Ole Laursen. After making his professional debut in 2011, Kadestam went on an impressive run to capture the PXC Welterweight Championship, and knocked out veteran contender Luis Santos upon his arrival in ONE Championship.
With that stunning knockout, he earned a shot at ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren, but was ultimately unsuccessful. However, he used the setback as fuel for his fire, and the results were immediate. After defeating fellow contender Agilan Thani in his opponent’s hometown of Kuala Lumpur, “The Bandit” made all his dreams come true when he knocked out the undefeated Tyler McGuire, finally capturing the World Title that eluded him the first time.
IURI LAPICUS
HEIGHT 180 CM | TEAM Team Petrosyan
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Undefeated Lightweight Iuri Lapicus is originally from Moldova, but moved to Italy at the age of 15 and has lived there ever since. The first martial art he trained in was judo when he was 9 years old, where he had to practice on a wooden floor due to the lack of money in Moldova for proper equipment.
Lapicus now calls Team Petrosyan out of Milan, Italy his home, where he has evolved from a pure grappler into a confident and competent striker. He was the first martial artist in a family of soccer players, and he was thus eager to prove his skills in competition.
He made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2014, and Lapicus went on to rack up a perfect 12-0 professional record before following his training partners Giorgio and Armen Petrosyan into ONE Championship to test himself on the world stage. Before important bouts, he also often travels to Amsterdam to work with famed European mixed martial arts World Champion Gegard Mousasi on his skills. To date, Lapicus has competed exclusively in regional Italian promotions, but he is now eager and excited for the opportunity to finally display his skills to ONE’s global audience.
